Winter kilting in Pacific Northwest?

**Oddern** · 18th June 12, 12:29 AM

Here is the thread regarding kilt yardage and body heat loss.
Skål!

**xman** · 18th June 12, 12:45 AM

Pursuant to the link Oddern posted I find 8 yard heavy weight to be the most effective.

**Riverkilt** · 18th June 12, 07:14 AM

Leather kilts weren't part of the testing....

From personal experience I believe that since heat rises, most any kilt will hold heat under the kilt. This was accidently verified on very cold day on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon when I stepped up to the urinal in an unheated National Park Service men's room. As soon as I raised the front of the kilt a sudden unwelcome chill enveloped my loins.

Fortunately, the heat returned in a few minutes.

My standard answer to "Aren't you cold?" Has become, "No, heat rises."

**escherblacksmith** · 22nd June 12, 01:59 PM

lot of use for this one lately . . . February (couple years back), -9 deg F, pre-dawn morning, heading to escort my daughter to the school bus stop.

Stillwater Heavyweight blackwatch. Hose, with an extra outer layer. Irish sweater with a substantial leather coat, tilley winter fedora.

It worked fantastic. My coworkers thought I was either the toughest person they ever met, or just insane.

**xman** · 22nd June 12, 03:24 PM

It's funny y'know, when the weather hits it's coldest which is only around freezing here, it is the time I am most inclined to wear my heaviest kilt to stay warm. The locals always, shivering in their cotton, ask with incredulity if I'm not cold. Whenever I meet a Scott from abroad they always say the same thing about my kilting. "Good weather for it".

**Chaitanya** · 22nd June 12, 04:01 PM

Around Greater Vancouver and down past Seattle and into Portland, all which basically have the same climate, even the cotton Utility Kilts have got many a soul through Nov-April

**Big Mikey** · 24th June 12, 12:26 AM

If you will have the kilt made at Freedom Kilts, talk with Steve about the winter weight cotton. 18 ozs. per yard! I can attest to its ability to ward off cold as it is my winter kilt. It is so good at holding heat that it doesn't even see the light of day during spring or summer.

**MacSpadger** · 24th June 12, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by Spc. Scott

And if I recall correctly the heavy weight box pleat came out on top. Due to the knife pleats beloved swing creating more air movement.

Having worn a Ministry of Defence box pleated kilt for some years, I can say that the box pleating does create an extra bit of padding around the kidneys, which is handy, and it makes absolutely sense of the higher cut waistband.
The bottom end of the kilt had two very heavy elastic straps under the pleating that restricted the "swing" to quite a degree. This helped keep the shape, but also prevented warm air loss. The coldest I have ever been out in a kilt was minus 23 celcius in the evening rising to a balmy minus 7 degrees centigrade by noon. I was posted near Inverness for a year. That was in the winter of 1978.
When you are young it seems like an adventure, but I couldn't hack it now.

**jhockin** · 24th June 12, 11:36 AM

there is also the option of "kiltJohns" , see:

"http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f115/long-johns-under-kilt-13941/index5.html"

(post #42)

**Elf** · 24th June 12, 12:27 PM

Being from the Northwest as well, I always sustain that the dampness gives a chill to the winter that is a separate issue from the thermometer reading. Also, doing a lot of sailing, I believe in wool as a defense against said dampness. Whether it's the kilt, the Inverness cape, or a plaid, just as long as it's wool, you will feel warmer. Good kilting,